Container for cigarettes and the like



Oct. 15, 1929. J. SPANNER CQNTAINER FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE File A ril 7. 192a go 24' i INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

By M/M Patented Oct. 15, 1929 JOHN SPANNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS CONTAINER FOR CIGARETTES ANDv THE LIKE Application filed April 7,

The invention relates to containers for cigarettes and the like, and the object of the invention is to provide a container adapted to receive a plurality of cigarettes or the like and dispense the same one by one.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container adapted to receive a plurality of cigarettes and having a movable partition or slide, said slide being adapted to engage one cigarette at the time to remove the same out of the container.

Other objects of the invention not specifically mentioned may be easily ascertained and understood through the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof. It is however to be noted, that the invention is not to be limited or restricted to the exact construction and formation shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but that the invention is only to be limited by the scope of the claim appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is' a longitudinal section through the container according to the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.-

The container consists of a bottom plate 5, two longitudinal side walls 6 and 7 respectively, two cross end walls 8 and 9, and a remov.ble top 10. The bottom, side, and end walls are rigidly connected with each other in any suitable and convenient manner and form the body of the container. The top 10 is removably fastened to the body in any desired manner, but preferably by means of a pair of dowel pins 11. In said top a slot 12 is provided. This slot extends longitudinally of said top and is arranged centrally thereof.

Two blocks 13 and 14 are fastened to the inner faces of the side walls 6 and 7 respectively at such a distance from the bottom wall, that the lower faces of said blocks will be located in the horizontal central plane of the container. The blocks extend towards each other, and the upper faces of said blocks are beveled and incline inwardly and downwardly. Said blocks extend over the whole length of the container and abut 1928. Serial N... 268,337.

the inner faces of the end walls, and may also be fastened to these walls. The blocks leave however a longitudinal slot between them, which slot 15 is located vertically underneath the slot- 12 in the top 10 and is approximately of the same dimensions.

Vertical guide grooves 16 and 17 are cut into the inner faces of the end Walls 8 and 9 respectively and are located centrally of said walls. A sliding partition 18 is arranged in the container, extending longitudinally thereof. The ends of said partition or slide are located in said guide grooves. The thickness of the slide is such, that it fits snugly into the slots 12 and-15 and can slide smoothly into and out of said slots. The depth of'said slide is such, that it extends from the upper face of the top to the upper rim of the slot 15 between the blocks 13 and 14.

V The upper face of the slide 18 is provided with a central longitudinal groove 19 adapted to receive one cigarette at one time. Into the inner face of the bottom 5 a trigger spring 20 is set. The lower arm of said spring is clamped into a hollowed out part 21 of said bottom. while the other arm extends upwardly and engages the slide 18 urging the same upwardly. In order to guide the upper arm of the spring 20 a groove is provided in the lower face of the slide 18 and the upper arm of said spring is resting in said groove. The bottom of this groove extends upwardly and is curved in about the manner shown in Fig. 1.' The upper arm of spring 20 ends in a ring and a cord 23 is fastened to the ring. A hole 24 is provided in the bottom wall 5 and the cord e2;- tends through said hole. The hole is preferably located on that place, where the end of the upper spring arm will touch the bottom, when the spring is entirely compressed.

Adjacent its upper face the slide 18 is provided with a shoulder 24 on each of its ends, and the top is provided with corresponding shoulders 25 adjacent the ends of the slot 12, the latter shoulders engaging the former when the slide is pressed upwardly by the spring, so that the upper face of the slide will be even with the upper face of the top, when the slide reaches its uppermost position.

The invention operates as follows: The top 10 is removed from the body of the container. A plurality of cigarettes 26 are put into the box at both sides of the sliding partition 18 and onto the slanting surfaces of the blocks 13 and 14:. The top is replaced. If it is desired to remove a cigarette from the container the spring 20 is compressed by pulling on the string 23. The sliding partition will slide downwardly by its own weight until the top of theslide will be even with the upper rim of the slot'15 between the blocks 13 and 1 1. The cigarettes will roll on top of the slide on account of being supported. by an inclined surface. WVhen the cord is released, the spring will urge the slide upwardly and the slide will carry one cigarette along, the groove 19 in said slide holding it in place, while the other cigarettes, located on top of the one in the groove will roll off towards the sides. When the slide will reach its uppermost position, in which it is stopped by the shoulders 25 engaging the shoulders 2 1, the cigarettes in the groove will be located on top of the container, from where it can be easily removed.

hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device of the class described a box, a top removably fastened thereto and having a centrally located longitudinal slot therein, a false bottom arranged at about'half the height of said box and having a longitudinal slot therein registering with the first mentioned slot, the top of said false bottom slanting downwardly from the sides of said box toward said slot a slide fitting snugly into both of said slots and adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly therein and to be positioned in such a manner, that the upper face thereof may be located in the same plane with the top edge of either slot, a spring in the lower portion of said box adapted to engage the bottom of said slide and to urge it into its uppermost position and means for disengaging said spring from the slide and for permitting thereby the slide to move downwardly by its own Weight.

In witness whereof I affiX my signature.

JOHN SPANNER. 

